The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall got assists from past and future Duke basketball stars to attract a lot of attention Thursday night at N.C. Central University.
former Duke basketball star Nolan Smith - a loyal service customer of the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall - and rising Blue Devil freshman Austin Rivers played for Team Hendrick at the Greater N.C. Pro-Am. The game marked Rivers' Triangle debut on the hardwood.
The arena was packed for Team Hendrick's showdown against a team that featured North Carolina players Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald and Duke player Andre Dawkins. Also playing for Team Hendrick were Duke players Ryan Kelly and Seth Curry.
Among those in attendance was David Justice, a newspaper reporter for the Raleigh News and Observer, who wrote this account of the action:
Duke fans will have a lot to love about Rivers after his performance. Duke lost guards Kyrie Irving and Nolan Smith to the NBA this spring, but the heralded incoming freshman showed a packed house and some of his future teammates that he's ready to step right in and help the Blue Devils.
Playing for Team Hendrick with Smith and future teammates Seth Curry and Ryan Kelly, Rivers drew the largest roars of the night on a pair of dunks and afterward drew the largest crowd of autograph seekers, too.
He scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Curry hit five 3-pointers and scored 17, while Smith, the ACC's most outstanding player last year, led the team with 29.
Sheraton Imperial, however, won the game 93-83, behind the scoring of Leslie McDonald (30), Dexter Strickland (24) and Andre Dawkins (16).
"He's a tremendous talent," Kelly said of Rivers. "That's the great thing at Duke. They bring in talent every year. Like every other freshman he's going to have to get used to the defensive part of the game. But with that talent he'll be ready to play from the start."
Irving, who was at the gym but did not play, said before the game, "He's going to help, not doubt. I've seen him in some pickup games, and he's really good."
Rivers, who has been in Durham for a week, has the least to say about himself. But he does like what he sees about this summer league.
"There's some great competition here," Rivers said, while surrounded by fans. "I'm looking to be a creator and scorer, but I know that I have to work on everything. I can always improve."
Team Hendrick is scheduled to play three times next week in the annual pro-am summer league, which runs until Aug. 11. More crowds and exciting moves are expected. Be sure to check one out.
Think Hendrick. Think Durham.
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